Window-screen construction



W. H.'I, FITZGERALD. wmbow SCREEN comsmucnou.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1T. I921- Patented Aug. 22,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I "Fig. 1. F

InvenId'r. I William H.J. FiIzgeraId y Aflys.

W. H. I. FITZGERALD.

wmno-w SCREEN CONSTRUCTION.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7. I92I.

Patented Aug 22 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' InvenTor. WiIIIdm H. J. FiIzgeralcI by WMzW' Anya,

WILLIAM H. J. FlTZGERALD, or Biaainran-n, ivuissnoriusnrrsi WINDO -seamen oonsriworiou;

Application filed August 17, 1921. Serial; No. 4,533,093

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, W'IL IAM H. J. FITZ- GERALD, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of Brain-tree, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Window-Screen Constructions of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters .on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in window construction and one'of the principal objects is to provide a novel construction in which a sliding sash can be readily removed and replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the removal of the sash except-when raised to a predetermined height from closed position.

Another object of the invention is to -pro vide, as an article of manufacture, complementary runs of special, construction,

adapted to be secured to the frame and edges of the sash, so constructed as to permit easy removal of the sash.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel knock down screen construction comprising permanent-1y connected, corners to which sides and endsof any desired length may be secured, so that a customer purchasing the parts canconstruct a screen to fit any size of'window frame.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a novel means for securing the foraminous screen in the sash which will enable it to be readily removed and replaced.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the drawings and will; beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to a window screen construction, but it will be understood that the invention may be employed in connection with removable window sasnes or panels or any other mechanisms to which it is adapted.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a window frame having a window screen embodying my invention slidably mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a preferred form accompanying I assembled position in the frame. Fig. 3 ma perspective view of the retaining means illustrated in F ig. 2.

of locking device for retaining the screenin F 1g. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred:

form of screen sash corner, 'enibodyingl'my invention showing in. dotted lines portions of the connecting and filling menibers-which completethe sash. V I i Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview throu h one ofthe ends of the window s'creen eiiibodying my invention.

i Fig. is a perspective view of a, section of one 01 the recessed tongued, runs for the: window construction embodying my invention. 1

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an assembled knock-clown screenembodying' my in vention, certain of the screen retaining strips I being-omitted.

Fig. 8 is an end or side elevation of the sash construction embodying invention showing the corner sectionsfand the con.- necting and filling members in full lines separated from, said" corner sections, but illustrating in dotted lines the connecting and filling members in assembled position.

A; preferred embodiment ofthe invention is'illustratedin th acco npanying drawing as applied to av window screen slidabl'y mounted in' thewindovv frame, but it will be understodi that thelinventi'on may alsob applied to, one of'both of the glass supporting sashes for. the window. Asillustrated in the drawing, thewind'ow frame comprises the usual sill 1, sides 2 and Sand] top 4' in which the window sashes are mounted,

The window screen, consistingof fora ninous o'r reticulated'wireor fabric, is mounted in a-sash having ends 5 and; 6- ai d sides 7 and 8 and may. be of usual construction with iny inventioii applied thereto,'but pref,- ei-ably comprises a special knock-downlfstruet'ure which will. hereinafter be more' fully described.

In usual window screen constructions, the side members 2 and 3 [of the window frame are provided with tongued runs and the ends oftlie screen sash. are provided with comple mentary grooved runs} which are slidably mounted upon said. tongues,so.that the win:

dow screen may be rais ed and lowered.

In the present constructiomone of the side i members 2 may be provided with the usual typ of run 9, having a tongue 10 extending continuously longitudinally thereof and the end 5 of the screen sash may have secured to it a run 11 having a groove complementary to the tongue 10.

The opposite side 3 of the window frame desirably is provided with a run 12 having a tongue 13 provided with a plurality of recesses 1 1 spaced apart a predetermined distance, leaving portions 13 of said tongue between said recesses. The lower recess clesirably is located at a predetermined dis tance from the base or sill 1 of the window frame. The corresponding end of the screen sash is provided with a grooved run 15, one of the walls of said groove being cut away to provide recesses 16, which correspond in length and are complementary to the tongued portions 13* intermediate of the recesses 14 in the tongue so that, when the recesses in the wall of the groove are placed opposite the portions 13* of the tongue, the recesses 14 in the tongue will be opposite the remaining portions of the wall of the groove. When in this position, the sash can be swung laterally, preferably outwardly, the tongue 10 of the opposite end of the screen acting as a pivot about which the screen may be swung. In the normal position of the screen sash, the tongued and grooved runs interengage in the usual manner, but when the sash is raised sufficiently to cause a registry of the remaining portions of the tongued and grooved walls, the interengaging members may be disengaged in the manner aforesaid, and the screen may be readily removed and replaced.

In order to provide means for normally preventing such disengagement when the screen is raised, a removable member or members may be so placed as to fill one or more of the said recesses, and preferably to form continuations of the cutawa portions of the run. A convenient device of this ch aracter is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and comprises a plate 17, which desirably has a flange 18 adapted to be so positioned as to form a continuation of the tongue 13 across one of the recesses 1 1 in the tongue 13. The plate 17 may desirably have a thumb piece 19, by means of which it may be manipulated, and desirably is provided with a hook-shaped end 20 adapted to engage a locking stud upon the window frame.

The plate 17 may be sufliciently counter sunk in the wall of the run as not to interfere with the raising and lowering of the sash, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Preferably the plate 17 is pivotally mounted upon a base plate 17 which is counter-sunk into the run. The ends of the base plate 17 desirably may ex tend into slots beneath the end portions of the'tongue of the run adjacent the recesses 14. to secure the plate more firmly. W'hen the retaining member is in normal position, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the flange 18 serves to close the recess 14: and to form a continuation of the run so that the sash will slide upwardly in the usual manner. l Vhen it is desired to remove the sash, it is merely necessary to swing the retainer 17 about its pivot to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. VVhereupon, the window sash may be raised until its recesses register with the remaining portions of the tongue and the wall of the groove, then swung outwardly, as above described.

While the invention may be employed with runs of the usual character which have been provided with suitable recesses, as above described,-there may be spaces opposite the recesses through which flies and other'insects might crawl into the room if greatest care is not exercised in constructing the recesses. In order to prevent such apertures, special runs are provided, such as the tongued runs illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the thickness of the run at one side 22 of the tongue 13 is greater than the thickness of the run at the other side of th tongue 13. The walls of the grooved run desirably are complementary in length. to the sides 22 and 23 of the run, so that the walls of the groove and tongue will overlap and thereby prevent any opening through which the insects can enter the room. The complementary runs upon the other side of th window frameand sash desirably are similarly constructed but without recesses, so that the shorter wall of the groove will permit a more convenient pivotal movement of the sash when the screen is to be removed or replaced.

Screens made in accordance with the invention above described may be manufactured in complete form and suitably recessed runs sold with them for the purpose of installation in buildings. However, a windows vary greatly in size, both as to width and height, my invention contemplates the production of complementary runs as articles of manufacture which are adapted to be sold to the builder or owner of the house and. applied to usual forms of window screen sash and window frames. Thus, the tongued and grooved runs may be produced of any suitable length and provided with recesses of a predetermined length at predetermined distances apart, so that to equip a usual window frame and screen of any size with runs embodying my invention, it is merely necessary to saw the required length of runs and attach them respectively to the frame and the end or ends of the usual rectangular screen.

The invention further contemplates the production of a sash formed of sections so constructed that said sections may be invention illustrated herein, the sash comprlses corners having end members24t and side members 25, preferably secured together by a mitered tenon joint 26. The

into position, the screen is stretched very.

ends of the end and side members a and 25 are provided respectively withrecesses 27 and 28 adapted to receive the ends of connecting members 29 and 30 respectively. Theconnecting members may be merely straight-pieces of Wood or other material of the same width as the end and side members 24 and 25 and of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the recesses 27 and 28. By securing the ends of these connecting members to the corner members as aforesaid, a rectangular sash will be produced. Preferably fillers 31 and 32 may be inserted between the exposed portions 33 and'34 respectively of theend and side members of a. thickness andwidth corresponding to said ends to form a. complete sash of uniform thickness throughout, the fillers being secured to the connecting members 29 and 30 respectively.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing a novel and convenient mechanism for stretchin the foraminous or reticulated screen and locking it in place in the sash. This is accomplished by providing grooves 35, preferably in'the outer faces of the end and side members of the sash, which are adapted to receive locking 7 and ends of the sash, the retaining strips will increase the thickness of the sash which will be somewhatunsightly. A preferred construction is illustrated in Fig. in which the outer face of the strip is provided with a shallow recess 37 having an undercut end wall 38 to receive the complementary beveled end of the retaining strip 39. The groove 35 extends downwardly from the bottom of said recess and is located a sirort distance from the inner edge. of the sas t In assembling the screen, the foraminous material'may be placed upon the sash with its edges extending over the grooves; the cylindrical locking member may then'be forced into the groove, thrusting'the edges of the screen down into the grooves, as illus-' trated in Fig. 5. The retaining members 39 may then be inserted with their beveled edges beneath the undercut walls 38 of the recesses and securedto the sash by nails 40 or other suitable fasteners.

It will be readily understood that the knockdown screen, which is formed of assembled corners and connecting members,

may likewise be provided with grooves to receive lockingmem'bers and recesses for retainlng strlps 1n the manner above clescr1bed,

connecting members 29 and 80 rather than in the faces of the yfillers 31 and32. i

When the locking bars are thus forced tightly, so that the members of the screen in effect form trusses for the sash, which hold the sash members firmly in position and provide a very rigid screen structure.

.f Preferably the screen is provided with handles 4.1 and 12 upon. the lower side and end respectively. to enable the screen .to be over the usual screen constructionfwillbe In usual screen construction, one. ofthe pair-of runs 1s pIOVldeCl'Wlth a longer A obvious.

tongue and a deeper. groove thanthose of the other runsand aspring is: inserted either'in the bottom ofjthe groove or in thetongue which serves to force the other run members firmly into engagement. Then-it is desired toremove the screen in sucl'rconstruction,

the sash is forced. toward therunsha ving' the deeper tongue. and. grooves until the tongue is disengaged from the groove at the opposite end of the sash, when it maybe swung .laterallyand removed, In such screen: con.-

structions, however, a heavy pressure against the side of' the screen suchiasproiducedby a child pushlng againstthe screen jwlll frequently force the screen from its position and, cause the same to. fall 011111.111 the present--.constructi0n, Y the aneeessity "for such springs; 1s .entlrely ellmmated and a screen construction produced in which there is a positlve locking of'thelscreen, against sidewise movement of the screen when it is in closed position or in any open position pro-.. -V1 ded the latch remains in place. Further,,

more .the present construction permits a --looseness ofthe screen in its waystoenable itto fit upon thebottom ofagsash WliiGll'llELS settled slightly without i leaving} any space through which fliesand other insects can enter the house.'

.1 It will thus be seenthat-iny invention contemplatesnot only an assembledscreenconstruction com arisin s ecial formsof runs L? which. will. permit the screen to'ibe readily and screenmembers which may be sold separately to the builder or the occupant of the house and which may be assembled by him to provide a removable screen construction for any size of window frame.

It will be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is illustrative and not restrictive and that various modifications in form, construction and arrangement of parts made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A window screen construction comprising a window frame and a sash, co-operating runs on said frame and sash each having complementary tongued and grooved members, one of the said tongues and the groove wall of the cooperating grooved member being provided with recesses so spaced and positioned as to permit the remaining portions of the tongue and recessed groove wall to pass through said respective recesses only when the sash israised a predetermined dis-- tance from closed position, and swing about the other tongue as a pivot.

2. A window screen construction comprising a window frame and a sash, co-operating runs on said frame and sash each having complementary tongued and grooved members, oneof the said tongues and the groove wall of the cooperating grooved member being provided with recesses so spaced and positioned as to permit the remaining portions of the tongue and recessed groove wall to pass through said respective recesses only when the sash is raised a predetermined distance from closed position and swing about the other tongue as a pivot and a movable member normally closing one of said recesses, adapted to be removed to permit detachment of said tongued and grooved members.

3.- A window screen construction comprising a windowframe and a sash, co-operating runs on said frame and sash each having complementary tongued and grooved members, one of the said tongues and the groove wall of the cooperating grooved member being provided with recesses so spaced and positioned as to permit the remaining portions of the tongue and recessed groove wall to pass through said respective recesses only when the sash is'raised a predetermined distance from closed position and swing about the other tongue as a pivot, a guide pivotally mounted on said frame normally forming a continuation of the wall of said run across the recess therein but adapted to be swung aside to permit detachment of said run members and the removal of said sash.

4:. A window screen construction comprising a window frame and a sash,co-operating runs on said frame and sash each having complementary tongued and grooved members, one of the said tongues and the groove wall of the cooperating grooved member being provided with recesses so spaced and positioned as to permit the remaining portions of the tongue and recessed groove wall to pass through said respective recesses only when the sash is raised a predetermined distance from closed position and swing about the other tongue as a pivot and a resilient member in the run on said frame adapted frictionally to engage said sash to hold the same in elevated position.

5. A window screen construction comprising a window frame and a rectangular screen sash, complementary run members secured respectively to the sides of said. frame and ends of said sash, said runs having interengaging tongues and grooves and recesses in the tongue of one of said members and in one wall of the complementary grooved member so positioned as to permit the run member'to be disengaged by lateral swinging movement about the other tongue as a pivot when the sash is raised a predetermined distance from closed position,

6. A window screen construction comprise,

ing a window frame and a rectangular screen sash, complementary run members secured respectively to the sides of said frame and ends of said sash, said runs having interengaging tongues and grooves, spaced recesses in. the tongue of one of said. members and i1 1. one wall of its complementary grooved member so located as to permit the run members to be disengaged by lateral swinging movement about the othertongue a pivot when the sash is raised a predetermined distance from closedposition, the thickness of the recessed tongued run being greater at one side of the tongue than upon the other side of said tongue and the walls of said co-operating grooved run having thicknesses complementary to the sides of said tongued run, whereby said recesses will be wholly covered when the screen is in closed position.

7. he an article of manufacture, complementary run members for window screens '1 having respectively a tongue and a groove, said members being adapted for attachment to a window frame and window screen frame respectively, the tongue and one wall of the groove being provided with complementary recesses so spaced as to permit the section of the tongue intermediate of its recesses to pass laterally through the recess in the wall of said groove and the sections of the grooved wall intermediate of its recesses to pass through the recesses in said tongue.

8. A window screen construction comprising a window frame and a sash, co-opera'ting runs on said frame and sash having complementary interengaging tongued and grooved members, the tongue of oneof said runs and one wall of the complementary grooved run being provided with recesses so placed and positioned as to permit the re maining portions of the tongue and recessed groove wall to pass through the said respective lecesses when the sash is raised to a predetermined distance irom closed position, a

plate countersunk in one of said runs eX- tending beneath the interengaging member of said run, a guldepivotally mountedon said plate having a wall normally forming a continuation of the Wall of said run across the recess therein but adapted to be swnng v In testimony whereof, I'have signed name to' this specification.

WILLIAM 11.. J. FITZGERALD. 

